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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Peter Robertson With Reel Pride

This year marks the 25th
anniversary of the Fresno Reel Pride Film Festival. It’s hard to believe that
in a conservative area like Fresno, in the even more conservative Central
Valley of California, that such a radical event could not only be created, but
live to become a force to be reckoned with. Fresno Reel Pride is a true example
of what happens when people pull together, year after year, to volunteer their
time, efforts and creativity. It’s an example of how the LGBT community can
rise above limitations.

I reached out to Peter Robertson, the 2014
Festival Director and Co-Founder of the Fresno Reel Pride Film Festival, to
talk about this year’s festival, and the history behind it.

Links for Reel Pride are at the end of this article

Chris Jarvis

You’ve been involved with Reel Pride since its inception. What first
motivated you to work on this project?

Peter
Robertson

I had been
actively involved in the student group – GLBSA (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Student
Alliance – now known as USP (United Student Pride) since it was established at
Fresno State in the fall semester of 1987. Our first year saw our booth in the
free speech area burned to the ground. Our second year had our student funding
nixed by the outgoing student body president, but thankfully restored by our
incoming student body president. In our third year, the Ku Klux Klan made an
appearance near campus protesting us and a student conference we were hosting.

In our fourth
year, the fall semester of 1990, fellow student Ken Fries mentioned to me
“Wouldn’t it be great to have a Gay and Lesbian Film Festival at Fresno State?”
I enthusiastically agreed! Ken and I eventually co-founded, co-presented and
co-produced the inaugural film festival on behalf of the GLBSA, in conjunction
with National Coming Out Day.

CJ

When you were involved with the start of Reel Pride 25 years ago, what
were your initial thoughts about how it would evolve, if it would survive,
etc.?

PR

We didn’t
know if we would be successful in year one, much less in year two or in the
many, many years to come. The first year we screened 11 films, from five
countries, screened two times per day, throughout six days. Some offerings were
on film, some were on video, but this was the beginning of an event that has
lasted a quarter-of-a-century. Additionally, all screenings were free-of-charge
the first two-to-three years, but we did accept donations.

CJ

Talk a little bit about the condition of the LGBT community in Fresno 25
years ago and now.

PR

Well, Ronald
Reagan was President, so that right there will give you “a pulse of society at
the time.” The GLBSA was lobbying for three equality-for-all aspects or civil
rights issues at the time – the right to an education for all, the fight to
housing for all, and the right to employment for all. Marriage equality wasn’t
even on the table. And, as you can see, our community is still striving for
equal rights-for-all in some of the matters – 25 years later.

CJ

What are your thoughts in general about LGBT film festivals? Why are they
necessary? What do they provide to the community?

PR

I am so glad
that you asked this question! I’ve been asked by members of the LGBTQ community,
allies and friends the same question, in different ways. I feel and I truly
believe that a LGBT film festival does two things very well – it celebrates our
diverse community; and it respectfully remembers the adversity that our diverse
community has overcome. We’re in a better place today than where we were yesterday,
but not quite where we want to be tomorrow.

CJ

What about the advancement of gay rights in general? Do you think that
the current trend toward national equality will hurt LGBT institutions such as
film festivals? Do you feel that they’ll go away? Do you think there’s a danger
in us losing our identity in return for blending in?

PR

For 25 years
we’ve been marching and chanting “We’re here, we’re Queer. Get used to it.”
And, little by little people are getting used to it. The LGBT community is
assimilating into society and the lines of diversity are getting blurred. We’ve
wanted equality, we’re getting equality, and because of that, our community’s
identity is being compromised, too. It is my hope that this won’t hurt LGBT
events such as pride parades and film festivals, but make these events even
more important to our community. As I mentioned earlier, pride parades and film
festivals help us to remember from where we came and where we used to be; as
well as help to motivate us to where we want to go in the future.

CJ

This is a monumental year for Fresno Reel Pride. 25 years. What unique
things does the festival have planned?

PR

From elected
officials, Assembly member Henry T. Perea and State Senator Andy Vidak, have a joint
resolution honoring this year’s film festival. And from Councilmember Blong
Xiong, Fresno’s mayor Ashley Swearengin and a majority, but not all, of the
Fresno City Council, we have another resolution celebrating our 25th year. What
a difference an election year makes, especially across the political aisles!

From a donor side, we’ve established an endowment fund with lead gifts of
$5,000 made by Ron Wilson, and two $1,000 gifts made by Jim Daggs, plus my
husband, Victor Kral, and myself. This helps to ensure a firm foundation for
film festivals into the future.
And this year, we’re also granting Director Emeritus status to Mr. Wilson, plus
Festival Director Emeriti status to Kenneth Fries, Co-Founder; Jeff Robinson
and Jera Peterson; as well as Jon Carroll.

CJ

Are there youth events planned?

PR

We have a
special, free screening for students on Saturday, in conjunction with a free
pizza party with pizzas provided by from Richie’s Pizza & Hot Dogs.

CJ

What about the parties and other events surrounding Reel Pride this year?
What other Reel Pride events should people be aware of?

PR

We have the
Opening Night and Closing Night Galas at the Painted Table, which require
festival passes to attend; as well as a Pre-Party at Bobby Salazar’s, two
Women’s Parties at SCORE, and a Men’s Party and Pinot Bar & Grill. All are
included in the purchase of a 2014 Festival Pass.
For those that spend a little more on their festival passes, we also add a
Filmmakers’ Reception at Veni Vidi Vici, plus a Sunday Brunch at The Painted
Table.

CJ

For those that haven’t purchased festival passes, how long will those be
available for purchase and what will it cost to purchase individual tickets to
films on a daily basis?

PR

2014 Festival
Passes are $95 per person and include access to 50 movies throughout five days
in three venues, plus access to a majority of the parties. Individual tickets
are $10 and up, depending on the film and the venue.

CJ

Fresno Reel Pride is an official nonprofit organization and all those
working for Reel Pride do so on a volunteer basis. Talk about how important it
is for the community to support not just your nonprofit, but other LGBT
organizations as well.

PR

This year,
2014, has been a year of unexpected transition, but we have an amazing,
tireless and wonderful team of board members that have “risen to the occasion”
to ensure that our community’s film festival will take place this year,
as well as into the years to come. I must recognize them for giving their time
and talent to support Fresno Reel Pride’s 25th annual film festival: Kat
Reyna’s the first female president of board in 15 years; Jon Carroll’s been a
mainstay for more than a decade and serves as vice president and programming
director; Brian Carnes is a new board member and serves as our treasurer; Augie
Blancas is our secretary and communications director; Justin Kamimoto serves as
our outreach director and organized our silent auction that raised more than
$10,000 (our most successful silent auction to-date); Christopher Dodd has returned as festival pass guru and we've seen a tremendous increase in sales from previous years; Michael Reyna is another
new board member that has hit the ground running to raise more than
$65,000 in sponsorship revenue (our biggest year, ever in sponsorship revenue);
and Tiana Perez of the Fresbians is a new board member who has stepped up to organize
our volunteers. I sincerely applaud and heart fully salute each of these
volunteer board members in not only ensuring a 2014 film festival will take
place, but that a 2015 film festival will also take place.
The importance of supporting other LGBT non-profits cannot be overstated. Next
year, Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade will celebrate its 25th year! Additionally,
Fresno’s GLBT Community Center will celebrate its 4th anniversary. And, if I
may, the Bulldog Pride Fund at Fresno State will celebrate its 10th year. All
of us are “in this together,” and it’s vital to support each other, on behalf
of our diverse community. We should never look to others as “We’re competing
with each other, but that we’re complementing each other.”
I’ve repeated this phrase over-and-over during the past six months with members
of our LGBT community that have been wavering on their continued support of
Fresno Reel Pride this year – “This is not my film festival; this is not your
film festival. This is our community’s film festival! If you support our
community, then you will support this year’s film festival.” It’s as simple as
that. Period.
I’ve also added this statement in the past month: “Just because you try to blow
out Fresno Reel Pride’s candle, it won’t make your candle burn brighter.” Those
that read this will know that this statement speaks directly to them, to their
words, and most of all, to their actions.
Finally, I urge all members of our diverse community and our allies to attend
Fresno Reel Pride’s 25th Annual Film Festival. You will be pleased for our
community, and most of all, you will be proud of our community. Thank you.